State Lawmakers Struggle To Agree On Budget, Nearing Legislative Deadline

State lawmakers are getting closer to the legislative deadline, where they have to finalize a state budget. Leaders from the Senate and House met for their fourth budget summit today, as they work to negotiate numbers.

One of the agreements that lawmakers seemed to reach easily this week is to put $45 million towards emergency management in Oklahoma to help with storm damage cleanups. The two chambers are also on the same page for a majority of the health and human services budget, and the overall appropriation for the department of public safety.

Law enforcement appropriations is causing disagreements in each chamber. The House is wanting to give at least $20 million towards local police and sheriff salaries. This has been a highly debated topic because the state does not currently pay anything towards county employees' salaries.

The Senate at first said this could be a slippery slope, but is slowly coming around to the idea. This morning, the Senate took the stance that if they are going to fund any law enforcement salaries, they need to give at least $23 million to fund them in full.

Lawmakers are not expected to reach a full agreement Wednesday, and will likely be convening for their fifth budget summit next week. They must reach an agreement by May 31st.

Both chambers are updating their negotiations in real time on the House Budget Transparency Portal.